PC Notebook Computer Batteries Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazard

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2008
Release #09-035

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ed Kang, (301) 504-7908

PC Notebook Computer Batteries Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firms named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Lithium-Ion Batteries used in Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba and Dell Notebook Computers

Units: About 35,000 batteries (an additional 65,000 batteries were sold worldwide)

Battery Cell Manufacturer: Sony Energy Devices Corporation, of Japan

Hazard: These lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: There have been 19 reports of the batteries overheating, including 17 reports of flames/fire (10 resulting in minor property damage). Two consumers experienced minor burns.

Description: The recalled batteries were included with, and sold separately for use in, the following notebook computer models:

Computer Manufacturer: Units
(Notebook Model)
== Battery Model ==

Hewlett-Packard: About 32,000
(HP Pavilion: dv1000, dv8000 and zd8000)
(Compaq Presario: v2000 and v2400)
(HP Compaq: nc6110, nc6120, nc6140, nc6220, nc6230, nx4800, nx4820, nx6110, nx6120, nx9600)
== Recalled batteries will have a bar code label starting with A0, L0, L1 or GC ==

Toshiba: About 3,000
(Satellite: A70/A75, P30/P5, M30X/M35X, M50/M55)
(Tecra: A3, A5, S2)
== n/a ==

Dell: About 150
(Latitude: 110L)
(Inspiron: 1100, 1150, 5100, 5150, 5160)
== OU091 ==

The battery model is located on the battery's label.

Sold by: Computers with the recalled batteries were sold directly by Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba and Dell, through computer and electronics stores nationwide, and through various Web retailers for between $700 and $3000. The batteries were also sold separately for between $100 and $160.

Hewlett-Packard - sold from December 2004 through June 2006

Toshiba - sold from April 2005 to October 2005

Dell - shipped between November 2004 and November 2005

Battery Cells Manufactured in: Japan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the recalled battery from their notebook computer, and contact their computer manufacturer to determine if their battery is included in the recall and to request a free replacement battery. After removing the recalled battery from their notebook computer, consumers may use the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives. Consumers should only use batteries obtained from their computer manufacturer or an authorized reseller.

Consumer Contacts: For additional information, consumers should contact the manufacturer of their notebook computer:

Hewlett-Packard Co. - http://www.hp.com/support/BatteryReplacement or call (800) 889-2031 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

Toshiba - http://www.bxinfo.toshiba.com or call (800) 457-7777 anytime.

Dell - http://www.dellbatteryprogram.com or call toll-free (866) 342-0011 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

Media Contacts:

Hewlett-Packard Co. - Mike Hockey at (281) 927-9379 or mike.hockey@hp.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Toshiba - Eric Paulsen at (949) 275-7957

Dell - Jeremy Bolen at (512) 728-8329 or Jeremy_Bolen@dell.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sony - Elizabeth Boukis at (408) 352-4593 or Elizabeth.boukis@am.sony.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09035.html

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.